Home » Suspect flees Deputy during traffic stop abandoning three year old boy

Suspect flees Deputy during traffic stop abandoning three year old boy

By
Dan Thesman.
Published Friday, July 5th, 2013

A Yakima man fled on foot from a traffic stop and dove into the Yakima River yesterday afternoon leaving behind a three year old boy in the vehicle.

36 year old Eliberto Rivera of Yakima was stopped for speeding by a Kittitas County Sheriff's Deputy while traveling southbound on State Route 821 just before 3 p.m. yesterday. The Deputy contacted the driver and noticed a three year old boy in the back seat unrestrained.

The Deputy believed Mr. Rivera may be under the influence of intoxicants and Mr. Rivera volunteered to do field sobriety tests. While performing the tests Mr. Rivera ran from the Deputy and threw a bag and jumped into the Yakima River and swam to the opposite shore. The Deputy seized the bag which contained about 7 grams of methamphetamine.

Utilizing the Sheriff Office's boat and assisted by Washington State Patrol Troopers, law enforcement took Mr. Rivera into custody on the opposite shore line without incident. The child was later released to his mother. Child Protective Services has been notified.

Mr. Rivera was booked into the Kittitas County Corrections Center for Driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, Reckless endangerment, due to the driver suspected of being under the influence and having a child in the vehicle and possession of methamphetamine.